Folding fruit box



Feb. 20, 1934. E WARNER 1,948,083

FOLDING FRUIT BOX -Filed Dec. 8, 1931 1; r4 Franklzn 1. Warner Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to folding fruit boxes and more particularly to boxes that are adapted as containers for berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and the like. Certain objects of the invention are to provide a fruit box made of a single piece of cardboard cut in shape to provide double or reenforced sides where the.

box is secured together, and supporting, flanges of double thickness around its bottom. Further objects are to provide a box with a springy or cushion bottom and flexible sides made of pasteboard whereby friction or rubbing of the fruit is reduced to a minimum. Still further objects are to provide a box that is secured by metal staples with means whereby the staples are entirely out of contact with the contents of the box. Still further objects are to provide a box composed of a single piece of pasteboard with smooth interior walls whereby rubbing of the contents is eliminated and impregnation of the fruit by objectionable wood sap flavors is obviated. And another objectis to provide a box that is folded during the process of its construction into flat compact form in readiness for shipment whereby a saving is effected in storage space and in the cost of shipment.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction, adaptation, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing; wherein: Figure 1 is a pattern plan view showing the form in which the pasteboard material is cut; Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the next step in folding and securing two side flaps of the box; Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the third step in folding and securing the other two side flaps and their wing portions; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view in section taken substantially on a broken line 5--5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the finished box in the open position with one of the side flaps in a partly raised position.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates two of the opposite side flaps each of which is provided on its ends with tongues .6 and said two side flaps are each connected to the bottom '7 by means of a convergent portion 8 and a divergent portion 9 with a perforated or foldable line 10 dividing said connecting portions. The two side edges of the bottom '7 are defined bydot and dash lines 11 where said divergent portions 9 are joined thereto. These spaced apart dot and dash lines are disposed in parallel with the dotted or perforated lines 10 and said dot and dash lines may be either perforated or creased for folding as will be understood.

The other two side edges of the bottom '7. are

defined by spaced apart parallel perforated lines 12 that are disposed slightly outside the points where the edges of the divergent portions 9 join the bottom, thus forming a rectangular or square bottom 7. Disposed at equal distances outside of said perforated lines 12 and in parallel therewith are another pair of perforated lines as des- 14 thus provided between the lines-12 and 13 are equal in width with the divergent portions 9 which together form the bottom flanges of the finished box-as hereinafter set forth.

Adjoining. the narrow portions 14 the other two '5 side flaps 15 extend outwardly from the perforated lines 13. Said flaps are equal in width and length with the flaps 5 and are provided with slots 16 which are arranged to receive the tongues 6 when the box is in the finished open position as shown so in Fig. 6. Perforations 17 may be provided through said flaps and through the bottom '7 for ventilating purposes; Extending outwardly from the side flaps 15 are wing flaps 18 which are connected to the side flaps along perforated lines 19 85 which are continuations of the lines 11 and which define the side'edges of the side flaps 15. Said wing flaps are divided by diagonal perforated lines 20 that extend to a connection with said side flaps thus forming a short slanting edge portion 21 for the inner edges of said wing flaps.

Referring to Fig. 2, the first step in securing the-box consists in folding the two side flaps 5 over along the perforated lines 10 against the bottom '7 and stapling or stitching the connecting portions 95 8 and 9 together by small staples 22 slightly outside of the perforated lines 11 as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. The outer triangular wing portions of the wing flaps 18 are then folded over. alongthe diagonal perforated lines 20 as shown in dotted lines. at 23. The side flaps 15 are next folded over along the perforated lines 13 against the folded flaps 5 as shown in'Fig. 3. In thus folding saidfiaps the edge portions of the opposing wing flaps 18 are brought together in overlapping relation and said edge portions are stapled together as at 24. The narrow portions 14 are then secured to the side flaps 15 by staples slightly outside of the perforated lines 12 as u ignated by the numeral 13. The narrow portions 2 shown in 4 thus completing the securing of the box.

The boxes when secured in accordance with the foregoing described method are flat and compact as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In this flat form the empty boxes are packed and shipped -to the users and take up very limited space thus'eifecting a saving in the cost of shipment and-in storage. In using the boxes it is merely necessary for the berry packers or pickers to first raise the flaps 15 whereby the connected wing flaps 18 are straightened out, and to then raise the flaps 5 against the connected wing flaps 18 whereby the tongues 6 snap into the slots 16 thus securing the box in the open and finished position as shown in Fig. 6.

When the flaps 5 are raised against the connected wing flaps 18 they form smooth inner surfaces for the berries, reenforce or strengthenthe secured sides of the box, and cover the staples 24 or other securing means whereby same are prevented from-coming in contact with the fruit contents of the box. It will also be noted that the staples 22 and are disposed below the bottom '7 so that no metal or other securing means is in contact with the contents of the box. Said staples, in securing the portions 8 and 9 together and the portions 14 to the side flaps 5 outside of the perforated lines 11 and 12 respectively, provide stiff bottom flanges of double thickness along the four bottom edges of the box as shown at 26 in Fig. 6 when the four side flaps are pivotally raised along said perforated lines. A springy or cushion bottom 7 is provided, the sides of the box are resilient and durable, and the interior surface being of smooth foldable material, all rubbing or frictional engagement of the fruit with the box during shipment orhandling is reduced to a minimum and the use of pasteboard or the like eliminates the possibility of the fruit becoming impregnated with objectionable flavors which are sometimes caused by distasteful sap when wood is used in the construction of a fruit box.

While I have described the side flaps, wing flaps and narrow portions as being secured by staples, it will be understood that same may be glued or secured by any other desirable and suitable means, and it will also be understood that any other suitable foldable may be substituted for pasteboard in the construction of the box. Having thus described by invention, it being understood that minor changes in its form, construction and arrangement may be resorted to without depart-.

ing from the scope and spirit of the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:--

1. A folding fruit box made of a single piece of foldable material and comprising a rectangular bottom, four narrow strips joining the bottom along foldable lines, four side flaps joining the narrow strips along foldable lines, wing flaps joining the sides of two of the oppositely disposed side flaps along foldable lines, said narrow strips secured to the side flaps at points outside of the bottom whereby four bottom flanges of double thickness are provided by swinging said narrow strips to a vertical position when the side flaps are raised to an upright position, and the overlapping ends of the opposite wing flapssecured together whereby they serve as re'enforcements for two of the side flaps when raised to the upright position.

2. A folding fruit box made of a single piece of foldable material and comprising a rectangular bottom, four narrow strips joined to the bottom along foldable lines, four side flaps joined to the narrow strips along foldable lines, tongues on the ends of two of said flaps and securing slots in the other two flaps adapted to receive the tongues, wing flaps joined to the sides of two of the oppositely disposed side flaps along foldable lines, said wing flaps oppositely secured together and foldable outwardly along diagonal lines to form fla triangular projections, and the'inner edges of the connected wing flaps falling slightly outside the outer edges of the four narrow bottom strips whereby the box is foldable in compact form.

3. A folding fruit box made of a single piece of foldable material and comprising a rectangular bottom, narrow strips joined to the four edges of the bottom along foldable lines, a side flap joined to each of the narrow strips along foldable lines, two of the side flaps folded over against the bottom and secured to the narrow strips at points immediately outside of the bottom to provide depending flange legs when said flaps are raised, wing flaps joined to the sides of the other two side flaps along foldable lines, said wing flaps folded outwardly along diagonal lines, the last two named side flaps folded over against the other two folded side flaps and secured to the narrow strips at points immediately outside of the bottom whereby the oppositely disposed wing flaps are brought into overlapping relation and whereby the narrow strips provide depending flange legs when said two side flaps are raised, the overlapping portions of said wing flaps secured together and bearing the outside of their associated side flaps in the raised position of the box, said last named two side flaps having securing, slots therein, and tongues on the ends of the other two side flaps arranged to snap into said securing slots when the four sides are raised to an upright position.

4. A folding fruit box made of a single piece of foldable material and comprising a bottom, two side flaps oppositely connected to the bottom along spaced apart foldable lines and having tongues on their side edges, said side flaps folded inwardly along the outer one of the spaced apart foldable lines and resting on the bottom of the box, staples intermediately of the spaced apart foldable lines connecting said side flaps and bottom, another pair of side flaps oppositely connected to the bottom along spaced apart foldable lines and having slots arranged to receive the tongues on the aforesaid two side flaps, said last named side flaps folded inwardly along the outer one of the spaced apart foldable lines and resting on the aforesaid two flatly folded side flaps, staples intermediately of the spaced apart foldable lines connecting said last named side flaps and the bottom, a pair of wing flaps connected to each of the last named side flaps along foldable lines, the outer end portions of said wing flaps folded against their inner portions along diagonal lines with the oppositely disposed end portions overlapping each other, staples securing said overlapping end portions together, and the irmer edges of said wing flaps disposed in the folded and secured position slightly outside of the outer edges formed by the connection of the first named ride flaps with the bottom in their flatly folded position.

FRANKLIN E. WARNER. 

